Key Takeaways BA gained 10.8% over the year but underperformed the market and the broader aerospace sector. Commercial revenues jumped 75% in Q1 2025, while defense backlog hit $61.57B on $4B in new contracts. Despite solid growth prospects, BA faces supply-chain issues, weak ROIC, and trades at a valuation premium. Shares of The Boeing Company (BA)  surged a solid 10.8% over the past year. However, the aerospace giant lagged the S&P 500’s return of 11.9%. The stock has also underperformed the Zacks aeros ...

Core Viewpoint - The Zacks Transportation-Truck industry is facing significant challenges due to tariff-induced economic uncertainties, weak freight rates, driver shortages, and inflation, yet some companies like Marten Transport and PAMT CORP are positioned to endure these difficulties [1]. Industry Overview - The Zacks Transportation-Truck industry consists of truck operators that transport freight across North America, offering various services including full-truckload and less-than-truckload (LTL) [2]. - Companies in this sector provide diverse trucking services such as dry-van, dedicated, refrigerated, flatbed, and expedited, along with logistics and intermodal services [2]. Current Trends - Supply-chain disruptions and weak freight rates are negatively impacting the industry, with the Cass Freight Shipments Index declining by 5.3% year-over-year in March, marking eight consecutive months of decline [3]. - The industry is focusing on cost-cutting measures to improve productivity and efficiency in response to high inflation affecting labor, freight, and fuel costs [4]. - A prolonged driver shortage is expected to leave the trucking industry short of over 160,000 drivers by 2030, exacerbating supply-chain challenges [5]. Tariff Impact - The current administration's protectionist policies and new tariffs are creating trade tensions with major partners like Canada, Mexico, and China, leading to increased volatility and uncertainty in global trade, which is detrimental to the industry [6]. Industry Ranking and Performance - The Zacks Transportation-Truck industry ranks 244 out of 246 Zacks industries, placing it in the bottom 1% and indicating poor near-term prospects [7]. - Analysts have reduced the industry's earnings estimate for 2025 by 42.7% year-over-year, reflecting a negative outlook for earnings growth [8]. - Over the past year, the industry has underperformed, declining by 30.6%, while the S&P 500 increased by 8.3% and the broader transportation sector fell by 17.4% [10]. Valuation Metrics - The industry is currently trading at an EV-to-EBITDA ratio of 13.64X, which is lower than the S&P 500's 15.2X but higher than the sector's 8.82X [13]. Notable Companies - Marten Transport, based in Mondovi, WI, operates across five business platforms and has shown impressive cost-control efforts, currently holding a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold) [17]. - PAMT CORP provides truckload dry van carrier services and has expanded its customer base significantly through acquisitions, also holding a Zacks Rank 3 [21].

Industry Overview - The Zacks Transportation-Services industry is currently facing challenges such as weak freight rates, high inflation, and ongoing supply-chain disruptions [1][3][4] - Tariff-related uncertainty is another significant challenge impacting the industry [1][5] - Companies like Expeditors International of Washington, C.H. Robinson Worldwide, and Matson are noted for their ability to navigate these challenges [1] Economic Impact - The health of companies in the Zacks Transportation-Services industry is directly linked to the overall economy, with improvements in manufactured and retail goods positively affecting industry participants [2] - The Cass Freight Shipments Index has declined by 5.3% year over year in March, indicating weak freight demand [3] Cost Management - Industry players are focusing on cost-cutting measures to improve productivity and efficiency in response to high inflation and weaker demand [4] - Significant inflation levels are affecting labor, freight, and fuel costs [4] Tariff and Trade Issues - The current U.S. administration's protectionist policies are leading to increased tariffs, particularly affecting major trading partners like Canada, Mexico, and China [5] - The ongoing trade tensions are expected to result in increased volatility and uncertainty for the industry [5] Industry Performance - The Zacks Transportation-Services industry ranks 195 out of 250 Zacks industries, placing it in the bottom 21% [6][7] - The industry's earnings estimate for 2025 has decreased by 21.6% since August 2024, indicating a negative earnings outlook [8] Stock Market Performance - The industry has underperformed the S&P 500, declining by 14.5% over the past year compared to the S&P 500's appreciation of 9.9% [11] - The industry is currently trading at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 1.46X, compared to the S&P 500's 4.92X [13] Company Highlights - **Expeditors International of Washington (EXPD)**: Currently holds a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), has beaten earnings estimates in three of the last four quarters with an average beat of 11.6% [17] - **C.H. Robinson Worldwide (CHRW)**: Also holds a Zacks Rank 3, has surpassed earnings estimates in each of the past four quarters with an average beat of 14.5% [21] - **Matson (MATX)**: Carries a Zacks Rank 3, has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 12.7% on average [24]